One of the new recruits struggles inside a drum full of water while doing the traditional water retrieval.
CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA
A total of 122 new fire officers took their oath before Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-7) Regional Director Samuel Tadeo yesterday at the Pari-an Fire Sub Station.
In his speech, Director Tadeo told the new firefighters to be ready to serve. “Hindi ito pansariling (This is not for your own) interest pero (but) for the welfare of the public. You are obligated to save lives.”
Tadeo said that after their oath taking, the new fire officers will undergo a 45-day orientation on the fire department’s operations including the BFP-7’s vision and mission.
After the orientation, the new fire officers will then be deployed in the different fire stations in Central Visayas.
After Tadeo’s speech, a ceremonial haircutting was done for female firefighters, followed by the basic exercises like push-ups, squat, knee bender and the traditional water retrieval.
Eugene Adolfo, 28, one of the new recruits, failed the qualifying examination for four times in his bid to enter the Bureau of Fire. But those failures did not discourage him from pursuing his dream.
Instead, he applied again for the fifth time this year and passed the process recruitment.
“Sige ko og tuon ug ampo (I always study and pray),” Adolfo said.
A native of Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City, Adolfo graduated Bachelor of Science in Criminology in 2010 and passed the licensure examination in 2012.